Summer Field Opportunities: The West The Western Forest Initiative is hiring eight field technicians for summer of 2015.
Forest Demography: Four positions will involve the establishment of a large, Smithsonian-affiliated forest dynamics plot at Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah (elevation 10,500’). The crew will map, identify, and tag approximately 40,000 woody stems over the course of the summer, as well as survey monuments in steep, forested terrain. The crew will work with and supervise volunteers during part of the summer. Fire Effects: Three positions will involve sampling one-year post-fire landscapes throughout the Pacific Northwest (principally Idaho and eastern Washington and Oregon). Working in crews of two, field staff will navigate to pre-determined locations within fire perimeters and conduct vegetation and fuel surveys. Botany: One position will involve collection, identification, processing, and mounting of botanical specimens for the Utah State University teaching herbarium. This field technician will travel with the Western Forest Initiative investigators to sites in California, Washington, and Utah. Prior to the beginning of specific assignments, field staff will receive training at the Yosemite Forest Dynamics Plot. Duration: Late-May through Mid-August, with the possibility for some staff to extend through September. The work schedule is four, ten hour days per week. Salary: $10 to $13 per hour, depending on experience. Camping accommodations provided. The Fire Effects staff will receive mileage reimbursement. Qualifications: Previous experience taking vegetation research data, working safely in challenging environments, and following complex data collection protocols is required. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to solve problems and to work both independently and in teams of two or three. Work will involve moving through sometimes steep, rocky terrain with delicate and expensive equipment, as well as the ability to carry up to 15 kg of additional gear. Work experience in post-fire forests strongly desired, as is some knowledge of western flora, tree pathogens, and forest insects. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license and be considered insurable by Utah State University. Applicants must also have a Wilderness First Aid certification (Wilderness First Responder preferred) valid for the field season. Apply: Please assemble all of the following into a single PDF file and email it to james.l...@usu.edu<mailto:james.l...@usu.edu> – 1) A one-page cover letter describing your interests, reasons for applying, which position(s) you are applying for, and specific dates of availability (including any planned mid-summer absences), 2) A resume or CV, no longer than two pages, 3) Unofficial transcripts, and 4) Names, phone numbers and email addresses of references (please do not send letters of reference). Additional information and background at: http://ufdp.org, http://yfdp.org, and the Facebook Groups “Utah Forest Dynamics Plot” and "Yosemite Forest Dynamics Plot". Contact Jim Lutz at james.l...@usu.edu<mailto:james.l...@usu.edu> with questions not answered on those pages. Application deadline: January 15, 2015. Usually, we make our staffing decisions by early February. Exceptional candidates will be selected earlier. James A Lutz Assistant Professor, Forest Ecology Wildland Resources Department Utah State University 5230 Old Main Hill Logan, UT 84322-5230 Web: http://jamesalutz.com
